Toys for Tots a Slam DunkStudent-athletes collect over $5,000 and 159 toys

2009 Toy for Tots Campaign

Dec. 22, 2009

Madison, Wis. - The 2009 Toys for Tots UW Athletics promotion was a great success. On Saturday Dec. 12, student-athletes collected toys and cash donations from Wisconsin Basketball fans to support the Marine Corps Toys for Tots campaign.

As fans entered the Kohl center for the Badger men's basketball match up against Marquette, student-athletes stationed at various entrances with large boxes asked spectators for new, unwrapped toys or a small cash donation. Although many came prepared with toys, a greater number of fans found it easier to support the cause with cash. Altogether, student-athletes collected 159 toys and over $5,000.00 in monetary donations, making this year’s event substantially more successful than it had been in the past.

It took a group effort by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) to organize this year’s toy drive. Twenty-one student-athletes volunteered but women’s track athletes Tiffany Jones and Jordan Helgren took the lead on the project in the weeks leading up to the event, posting signs and encouraging student-athletes from all sports to participate.

It will be difficult to top this year’s positive outcome, but with Jones and Helgren being only sophomores, they will have plenty of time to plan ways to make next year’s event an even greater success.